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There is a company working to make Beamspring replicas shoved inside a cherry MX housing. Once those get into production, well the worth of these old IBMs should drop like a stone once the keyboards stop getting gutted.

Wanted: Any old clunky 286-P1 machine that has some kind of working battery or replaceable with off the shelf parts. Preferred: 10+lbs 386 machines.

There is a company working to make Beamspring replicas shoved inside a cherry MX housing. Once those get into production, well the worth of these old IBMs should drop like a stone once the keyboards stop getting gutted.

Not sure about that. Personally I don't feel/see the "superior" difference between these and a good model M or Northgate KB. Yes, they feel different but not better to me and certainly not $1500 better. I think the people who are gutting these kb do it because "it is collectable" or they feel it is an "investment". I seriously doubt someone is spending $1500 for a KB as the daily driver on their Win10 system. Of course I could be wrong, there are a ton of crazies out there. However, I think it will be like many other retrotech where a replica (e.g replica Adlib card, or Roland interface card) is available but the price for the "real thing" stays crazy high.

Not sure about that. Personally I don't feel/see the "superior" difference between these and a good model M or Northgate KB. Yes, they feel different but not better to me and certainly not $1500 better. I think the people who are gutting these kb do it because "it is collectable" or they feel it is an "investment". I seriously doubt someone is spending $1500 for a KB as the daily driver on their Win10 system. Of course I could be wrong, there are a ton of crazies out there. However, I think it will be like many other retrotech where a replica (e.g replica Adlib card, or Roland interface card) is available but the price for the "real thing" stays crazy high.

True, but I believe this keyboard will also be hall effect and have a better force curve than the original beamspring. And for all the "OMG ALPS BLUE OR BUST, etc." keyboard enthusiasts, I happyily enjoy my Outemu Browns and Cherry blues.

Wanted: Any old clunky 286-P1 machine that has some kind of working battery or replaceable with off the shelf parts. Preferred: 10+lbs 386 machines.

I have owned a bunch of model F keyboard. Not a single model M.. Is there a difference? Which is more prized and why?

The F's are much rarer and more desireable, but only the weirder variants. The XT ones are still relatively cheap because they're XT. I prefer the F over the M because it's got a slightly louder and higher pitched sound and the keys are a little lighter. But that 5120 had a beamspring and I wasn't all that impressed with it. I don't understand why they're so expensive. But the keyboard community is weird. I sold an IBM/Lexmark model M15 (basically an ergo model m2) for $650. It's extremely rare but probably the worst feeling and most uncomfortable keyboard I've ever used

I suspect that most of the "collectors" also use a cell phone or tablet with a touch screen. Wonder how many of them actually know how to touch type. (Hint: look at the F and J keys, as well as the space bar).